Alfa 156 GTA (+ Car History)
Discussion
I did my last thread in readers' cars not too long ago but it's time for another one! Instead of just writing about the new one, I thought it'd be best to do a round up of everything I have owned since passing my test, aged 17, in 2011 (August 4th to be precise!).
My first car was a 1999 Ford Fiesta 1.3. I paid around £800 for this and it cost a whopping £2800 to insure. As good as a first could be really, it could be driven flat out at a relatively low speed.
With a mate's Arosa
Looks out of place with more expensive machinery though!
Come MOT time it needed a lot of work doing, with that problem and me getting 1 years NCB I decided to shop around for something else....
A Saab!
I absolutely loved this thing, 220bhp, which for an 18 year old was more than enough! Even with my limited driving capabilities, I noticed how useless it was around bends. Good fun in a straight line though.
The engine died on this about 3 months into my ownership. Having used a local Saab Specialist for the last 3 months getting various jobs done to the 9-3, they offered me one of their cars to buy.
Which brings me on to car number 3...
Another Saab! The Bus (as it was christened by my mates) cost me a whopping £400 and was worth every penny. Low mileage and the wad of history was huge. The Saab garage had known the car since 2002 and owned it themselves since 2008 (going from memory here so may be a few years out!).
It was a crap car for a 18 year old to have but it did the job for me. The heated cloth seats were the best thing on it.
The 9-5 was the longest I owned a car and after 19months of ownership I shopped around for something else.
I decided on this specific model early on but spent ages looking for the right one. I wanted a low mileage manual of which there wasn't many for sale. This one then cropped locally, and it was a....
330Ci!
I got this car around the end of May and it is in good condition. FSH and had the VANOS unit replaced too. After a few months ownership, I decided it's not for me and it up for sale (on PH etc if anyone wants a gander!).
This brings me on to car number 5 (which I have yet to collect).
I have wanted one of these for years and didn't think I'd get to own one so soon. The noise, the noise is f
king outrageous. I went to view it, heard it start up and decided there and then that I want it.
I'm picking it up Monday and i'm grinning like a Cheshire cat just thinking about it. It had a full engine rebuild (with a bill around £5k!!) a few thousand miles ago and hasn't been used a lot since. Belts and clutch all done. New front suspension and brakes.
Body work is a bit tatty; rust on the front wings (brand new wings supplied) and stone chips on the side skirts but that can be sorted.
Planning on keeping this for a bloody long time.
Thanks all
My first car was a 1999 Ford Fiesta 1.3. I paid around £800 for this and it cost a whopping £2800 to insure. As good as a first could be really, it could be driven flat out at a relatively low speed.
With a mate's Arosa
Looks out of place with more expensive machinery though!
Come MOT time it needed a lot of work doing, with that problem and me getting 1 years NCB I decided to shop around for something else....
A Saab!
I absolutely loved this thing, 220bhp, which for an 18 year old was more than enough! Even with my limited driving capabilities, I noticed how useless it was around bends. Good fun in a straight line though.
The engine died on this about 3 months into my ownership. Having used a local Saab Specialist for the last 3 months getting various jobs done to the 9-3, they offered me one of their cars to buy.
Which brings me on to car number 3...
Another Saab! The Bus (as it was christened by my mates) cost me a whopping £400 and was worth every penny. Low mileage and the wad of history was huge. The Saab garage had known the car since 2002 and owned it themselves since 2008 (going from memory here so may be a few years out!).
It was a crap car for a 18 year old to have but it did the job for me. The heated cloth seats were the best thing on it.
The 9-5 was the longest I owned a car and after 19months of ownership I shopped around for something else.
I decided on this specific model early on but spent ages looking for the right one. I wanted a low mileage manual of which there wasn't many for sale. This one then cropped locally, and it was a....
330Ci!
I got this car around the end of May and it is in good condition. FSH and had the VANOS unit replaced too. After a few months ownership, I decided it's not for me and it up for sale (on PH etc if anyone wants a gander!).
This brings me on to car number 5 (which I have yet to collect).
I have wanted one of these for years and didn't think I'd get to own one so soon. The noise, the noise is f
king outrageous. I went to view it, heard it start up and decided there and then that I want it. I'm picking it up Monday and i'm grinning like a Cheshire cat just thinking about it. It had a full engine rebuild (with a bill around £5k!!) a few thousand miles ago and hasn't been used a lot since. Belts and clutch all done. New front suspension and brakes.
Body work is a bit tatty; rust on the front wings (brand new wings supplied) and stone chips on the side skirts but that can be sorted.
Planning on keeping this for a bloody long time.
Thanks all
mwstewart said:
That should do it! I personally found the 330Ci really very boring - I guess you did too?
Whilst it is a very good & capable car, it is quite refined. I don't need refined at the moment so I think the GTA will provide more smiles per miles. That said, it is a good car though.
griffin dai said:
Nice car that Scott 
Did you view that v6 Aero in the end mate?
Thanks mate! Did you view that v6 Aero in the end mate?
No, I didn't. I sent the seller an email and the reply sent some alarm bells ringing. Was an ex forces car and then imported, or something a long those lines.
Picking the GTA tomorrow afternoon! A few jobs to be done on the bodywork and thread will be updated in due course
carinaman said:
It's just the characters cast into the plenum. Functionally it's the same. It may matter to someone buying into the GTA legend, but if you're never going to sell it it doesn't matter.
It's a nice motor. I'll be interested to see how the ownership experience goes.
Ahh, OK. I understand what you're saying but as long as it functions the same, i'm happy. It's a nice motor. I'll be interested to see how the ownership experience goes.
Yes I plan on keeping for a bloody long time and will be sure to keep this thread updated.
Ved said:
There seems to be a very large gap between the prices these are advertised for. What's the general sweet spot for a good one with average miles? I have to say this has got me thinking
Best bet I would say is to get an enthusiast owned one from a website like alfaowner.com. At least then you could go through the user's posts and read up about the vehicle.Mine can be traced from new on the owner's forum and it's good to read up on it!
It had a 5k engine rebuild, the ecu died, the engine light is on and there's rust! How bad could it be?
In reality the rebuild was done by AutoLusso and still under warranty for another year. The ECU died because it was jump started and that fried it. The engine light is on due to no cat so the lambda sensor is throwing a dicky. And the rust is not bad at all, went to see my local bodyshop guy who said it is repairable.
Clutch can be a pain to do as it's an engine out job. Spark plugs (amongst other things) on the rear bank are a pain to change.
The turning circle is absolutely appalling. I think the Exxon Valdeez has a tighter turning circle!!
Most importantly though, cambelt cambeltc cambelt!!
All that aside though, just go and drive one and ill promise you'll fall in love.
Dai, give me a message and we'll pop out for a spin
In reality the rebuild was done by AutoLusso and still under warranty for another year. The ECU died because it was jump started and that fried it. The engine light is on due to no cat so the lambda sensor is throwing a dicky. And the rust is not bad at all, went to see my local bodyshop guy who said it is repairable.
Clutch can be a pain to do as it's an engine out job. Spark plugs (amongst other things) on the rear bank are a pain to change.
The turning circle is absolutely appalling. I think the Exxon Valdeez has a tighter turning circle!!
Most importantly though, cambelt cambeltc cambelt!!
All that aside though, just go and drive one and ill promise you'll fall in love.
Dai, give me a message and we'll pop out for a spin
Ved said:
What's the ownership on these like then? From your research you clearly weren't put off but what nasties did you find in the last keeper's posts on the owners club?
Edited by Ved on Tuesday 29th July 21:24
Well update time..
I'm currently average 14 to the gallon and it's worth every penny. So much fun, although I think my trip computer is broken as I can't get it below 11mpg no matter how hard I try.
I'm off to France at the end of the month so have ordered new oil and a filter. Decided to go for Castrol Edge 10w60 after much reading on AlfaOwner. Selenia Racing 10w60 was struck off the list early on as it's apparently ste.
4 new tyres are needed and I think i'm going for Avon ZV5s. Anyone have any experience of them? Usually have Contis but I am feeling a change.
Airbag light is on, I am hoping it's just dodgy connection under the seat but it's booked in to be looked at. Not worth the risk with such things IMO.
Brakes need looking at as well. For 330mm discs with new pads they aren't that good.
New bulbs needed also!
That being said, every time I start it up all those problems pale in to insignificance. That noise is just so fking good.
So far, 10/10.
I'm currently average 14 to the gallon and it's worth every penny. So much fun, although I think my trip computer is broken as I can't get it below 11mpg no matter how hard I try.
I'm off to France at the end of the month so have ordered new oil and a filter. Decided to go for Castrol Edge 10w60 after much reading on AlfaOwner. Selenia Racing 10w60 was struck off the list early on as it's apparently s
te. 4 new tyres are needed and I think i'm going for Avon ZV5s. Anyone have any experience of them? Usually have Contis but I am feeling a change.
Airbag light is on, I am hoping it's just dodgy connection under the seat but it's booked in to be looked at. Not worth the risk with such things IMO.
Brakes need looking at as well. For 330mm discs with new pads they aren't that good.
New bulbs needed also!
That being said, every time I start it up all those problems pale in to insignificance. That noise is just so f
king good. So far, 10/10.
I still only have to put £25-30 a week with that MPG so i'm not overly bothered (should tell you how little mileage I do!).
I stuck the cruise on at 70mph the other day when I had a rare trip on the motorway, trip was showing around 30-32 which I was happy with.
Planning on £200-£250 for fuel on the 700mile round trip to France.
I stuck the cruise on at 70mph the other day when I had a rare trip on the motorway, trip was showing around 30-32 which I was happy with.
Planning on £200-£250 for fuel on the 700mile round trip to France.
strangehighways said:
Awesome car. You will forgive it for everything with that busso v6 under the bonnet..Here's my busso..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNneQDo9SA
That sounds bloody good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZNneQDo9SA
As I said earlier, the car is off to France at the end of the month so there's some prep to be done!
It's having an oil and filter change done this weekend:
(There's another 4L bottle out of shot).
I've also got 4 new tyres. I usually go for Conti Contact Sports and have been very happy with them, but these Avon ZV5s were too good of a price to pass up.
The airbag light has turned itself off but it's still going in to the garage to have the brakes looked at!
Oh, and have another video too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpKlvLrq5jg
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